As the sword descended, it brought along a heavenly pressure that threatened to crush them. However, Arthur and Rae didn't stand still this time to block it. Using the opening left by this attack, they split apart and ran in different directions before turning toward the Great Knight.
As the attack descended, it split apart the earth as people fled everywhere. Arthur was climbing a pillar when he heard Trevor give commands.
"Tankers, upfront! Sharpshooters and Healers to the back! The Alpha team should split in two and attack from different directions!"
It seems he had swallowed down his anger and focused on the big picture. Arthur was glad he wasn't that petty to compromise his follower's lives for revenge.
"As for you, I'll bring you down myself!" Trevor roared from behind him.
"You've just ruined my good impression of you!" Arthur felt betrayed as he began jumping over the pillars.
As soon as the knight's attack finished, the sharpshooters started bombarding it with elemental spells and different types of attacks. There was even a guy holding a rifle that he had manifested.
The manifestation was a special kind of ability that wasn't static, but something more dynamic. It can be genetic but it can also be trained. For example, a person can train to manifest an item with similar properties to a real-life object. Even though it might not be the same, it could achieve a similar result or even a more destructive one.
The Great Knight ignored the attack and raised its sword again. It looked at both sides that were approaching him before he picked Arthur's direction to attack, given that it had both Arthur and Trevor who were strong.
"Are you looking down on me?!" Rae shouted with a frown as she headed directly toward the knight. Arthur sighed at her impulsiveness as he saw the giant sword slash in his way.
This time, he didn't try to help whoever might get involved. That was to say, he slipped into the shadows, letting Trevor take responsibility for his recklessness.
Arthur began traveling in the shadow space before appearing beside the giant. He looked back and saw Trevor flying a distance away after he got swept off his feet by the attack.
At this time, Rae has also managed to make it to the giant. She didn't even glance at Arthur before jumping high in the air with her scarf that turned into a giant spear.
"This win is mine!"
She struck the knight in the chest and it issued a low-pitched roar like a suffocated engine. The Great Knight let go of its sword and threw out its arms as a giant energy field exploded from within its body.
Arthur found himself being pushed back by the energy field. He tried to stand against it but his feet were already leaving marks on the ground as he was pushed back.
He saw Rae stretch her scarf midair and it coiled around the knight's arm. The scarf kept her in place and this gave Arthur a certain idea.
He slipped into his shadow again and appeared from Rae's shadow from behind her. He then grabbed Rae's shoulder as she gave out a startled scream and pulled himself upward.
"You rat!" She was about to turn to strike Arthur but he was already stepping on her shoulder and jumping. "I'll kill you!"
Arthur had no mind to consider her threats as he found himself in front of the knight's helmet. He threw his arm backward preparing for a punch as he burned the tiniest portion of mana using his Release rune.
He punched the air and there was a booming sound as if a cannon was fired. As his fist collided with the metal of the knight, Arthur felt the helmet dent inward as the Knight's head jerked backward. He then began falling toward the ground but felt something approach him from behind.
Arthur turned midair and blocked with both of his arms crossed as the white scarf struck him with such force that it felt like a train.
Before he can do anything, he was already flying a distance away and crashing to a set of ruins, breaking them down, and continuing. His back ached as he crashed to a giant pillar that broke down and fell to the side.
Arthur coughed violently as his arms felt numb. The dust stuck to his throat making it even more difficult to breathe. He opened his eyes to see a figure coming from behind the dust cloud.
It was Rae surrounded by her white scarf. Her eyes were glowing scarlet and her face was etched with cold rage. She stopped a distance away from Arthur who looked at her with a stoic expression.
"You dare to step on me?" Her voice was nothing like he had heard before, only an array of emotionless sound waves entering his ears. "Do you know who I am?"
As she said that, she threw a kick at Arthur's chest. This time, Arthur blocked her foot with his palm and his body was pushed deeper into the pillar.
"I don't care who you are." Arthur spat. "You attacked me in the middle of our bet. Are you fucking insane?"
"I never go back on my words, but you aren't worthy of them." Rae was just as cold. "Don't dream of living if you disrespect me." Her white scarf turned into a sharp blade and she stabbed toward Arthur's throat.
"Hah," Arthur exhaled. He grabbed the pushed away her foot as he slapped away the white scarf using his Release rune. The strength of the collision destroyed the nearby wall, leaving t in rubbles.
Arthur pushed himself up before she can react and punched toward her abdomen. The scarf stood in the way, blocking his attack. Rae slid back several meters away before stopping.
"I'm sick of you people thinking you're too high to be touched by others. It's about time that someone strikes you down." Arthur's rage was also undeniable.
He can understand that she was mad, but he didn't think it was enough for her actions. He didn't attack her or obstruct her, only using her to get close to the giant.
They were supposed to be working together to distract both the awakeners and the giant, so Arthur didn't think she would react this strongly to it. He had missed the fact that this person was too prideful to work with anyone.
Rae lifted her head after her body came to a stop. Arthur felt like he was looking at the eyes of a wild beast rather than a human. Her rage was undeniable as she exhaled white mana from her mouth.
It was then that the sound of fighting reached his ears. Arthur heard a low roar before someone shouted from the crowd.
"The Great Knight has fallen!"
Arthur snapped his head toward the direction of the knight. The knight's body was on the ground as a man stood above it with his manifested knight.
Trevor has slain the knight while they were fighting. It was at this time that Trevor looked at them and flashed Arthur a smug smile of victory. He mouthed several words that Arthur managed to pick up.
'You are next.'
He wasn't even a student yet but he was making enemies left and right. To be accurate, the whole thing began with his entanglement with Rae.
"We've lost the bet." Arthur turned toward Rae. "Because of your arrogance."
"No need for a bet since you're going to die." Rae took a step forward as her scarf danced around her.
"You can't kill me here. I will, at most, get eliminated. Good luck killing me then." Arthur grinned at her and she stopped walking.
"Hoh," She let go of a breath to calm down. "You're right. If I kill you now, I'll only be sparring you. Prepare yourself for a life of suffering as my slave, Alexie Linan."
Rae turned and started walking toward the Great Knight. Arthur sighed and followed after her. Trevor jumped from the knight's corpse and blocked their paths.
"Where do you think you're going?" Trevor glared at both of them. "We're the ones who are getting the crystals."
"I was the one to defeat that knight. You simply snatched its death at its weakest." Arthur didn't stop walking. Trevor's armor stood in front of the two imposingly.
"It's true that your puny attack had an effect, but remember you wouldn't have had the chance to attack it without my team holding the other knights back."
"Alright, we split it." Arthur compromised. He wasn't unreasonable and it was true that the team's efforts were a factor.
"No, you scram." Trevor spat as he adjusted his tie. "We were going to take the knights down before you two showed up."
"You think you can stop me?" Rae laughed at him.
"Not by myself, but we can." Trevor looked at her and spoke. "Everyone!"
The alliance began surrounding the two. It was also at this time that more people came from the other parts of the ruins. Arthur saw people he didn't notice before and figured that these people were the rest of the team that Oliver and Ellen should infiltrate.
"Alexie," Nera stepped up from the arriving newcomers as she stood beside Trevor. "I didn't know you were one of those trying to snatch our prey."
"I didn't see your names on any of the knight's armor." Arthur shrugged. "Fine, we'll leave." He then turned around to leave.
"Not so fast," Nera gestured. "You can't leave without your friends, now can you?"
Arthur stopped and turned to glare at her. The crowd parted as several people brought Oliver and Ellen. Arthur frowned and so did Rae as they saw Oliver crying.
"I'm sorry for letting you down, brother. I didn't think Nera would be involved. My handsomeness made them catch us before we get to the central plaza.
"Your little friend," Nera gestured with her chin toward Ellen. "Tried to make a run for it toward the plaza. Sadly, her legs weren't fast enough. I guess this was your plan?" Nera laughed.
"Let them go. We failed, so we're leaving. Unless you two want to fight?" Arthur said to both Nera and Trevor coldly.
"You can leave," Trevor gritted his teeth and spat. He was wary of losing most of his men if the two sides fought. Now that they had the crystals, they had achieved their victory. "But don't think this is over. Release them."
Oliver and Ellen were released and they walked toward Arthur and Rae, downcast. Arthur smiled toward them before beginning to walk away with his group.
The crowd parted and allowed them to leave. As Arthur passed Dalo and the girl, he heard a low whisper.
"Thank you for earlier."
He smiled unknowingly at their words. Once they were away from the alliance, Arthur turned to the rest of his team with a grin.
"Alright, let's run away before they realize what happened."
"What?" Oliver looked at him with confusion. "Realize that they have the crystals now?"
Arthur shook his head as he slipped his hand into his poach. From within it, he took out the three shining crystals. Oliver gaped at him and his mouth was as wide as an egg. The other two looked at him with equal shock.
"Now, we need to run." Arthur grinned.